Ice formation, Growth and Dynamics in Arctic Lagoon (Spitsbergen)

Lagoons are a significant element of the coastal line and in many settlements play a key role in infrastructure resilience. The knowledge of ice behavior in lagoons in the Arctic is important both from a scientific and engineering point of view. We observe ice in the lagoon near Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen) since Spring 2019, we envisage the possible construction of a natural ice tank for full-scale ice mechanical tests and other experiments. The place could be excellent testing site due to its developed infrastructure and logistics, reachable at any time. The complex of investigations included - timelapse series to see ice formation, deformations and destruction complicated by tide action; - laser scanning in ice free time to observe changing of lagoon geometry; - laser scanning at low and high tide to observe ice composition and bending; - measurements of ice temperature and salinity; - analysis of ice structure by thin sections; - comparison of aerial photos to reveal lagoon changes and movement. The lagoon has a maximal size of 300x50 m. The maximal tidal range is 1.98 m. During 3 years of observation, the head of the lagoon spit moved on more than 50 m along the coastal line.